Charlie competes with his fellow shop assistant. He is fired by the pawnbroker and rehired. He nearly destroys everything in the shop and himself. He helps capture a burglar. He destroys a client's clock while examining it in detail.
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Title: The Pawnshop (1916)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Charles Chaplin | ... | Pawnbroker's Assistant | |
 |
Henry Bergman | ... | Pawnbroker |
| Edna Purviance | ... | Pawnbroker's Daughter | |
| John Rand | ... | Other Assistant | |
| Albert Austin | ... | Client with Clock | |
| Eric Campbell | ... | Crook | |
|
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James T. Kelley | ... | Old Bum (as James T Kelley) |
| Frank J. Coleman | ... | Policeman | |
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Storyline
Charlie, the not-so-punctual and dependable pawnbroker's assistant, starts his day with his usual duties at the pawnshop--a bit of dusting; some polishing up, and above all, a lot of quarrelling with his co-worker. Before long, a customer arrives--what a fabulous opportunity for Charlie to exhibit his subtle technical skills, and to give his critical scientific evaluation with the use of a rusty can-opener. Then, another client comes, eager to see the diamonds; however, could he be a wolf in sheep's clothing? Written by Nick Riganas
Plot Keywords:
kicked in the butt | slapstick comedy | shop assistant | hit in the face | hit in the head |Parents Guide:
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Trivia
During an early scene, attention is drawn to the calendar on the pawnshop wall, which displays a date of Thursday, March 16. March 16 fell on a Thursday in 1916--the year this movie was made--and it is entirely possible that the scene in question was filmed on the actual date. See more »Alternate Versions
Kino International distributes a set of videos containing all the 12 Mutual short films made by Chaplin in 1915 - 1917. They are presented by David Shepard, who copyrighted the versions in 1984, and has a music soundtrack composed and performed by Michael Mortilla who copyrighted his score in 1989. The running time of this film is 25 minutes. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
2 October 1916 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
At the Sign of the Dollar See more »Company Credits
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"The Pawnshop" is a pretty good Charlie Chaplin comedy, with some routine stretches but also some very good slapstick. It features Charlie as an assistant in a pawnshop, engaged in a heated rivalry with another employee, trying to stay on the good side of the boss and the boss's pretty daughter, and occasionally waiting on a customer. The beginning has some very funny moments, with some slapstick that makes good use of the props, which include a feather duster and a ladder. There is a funny finale with Eric Campbell - one of Chaplin's best regular supporting players - playing a thief. The parts in between have some good moments, too, but they overdo it a bit with Charlie's fights with the other shop assistant. Overall, this is an average short feature for Chaplin, which means it is pretty good by most other standards.